SIOUX CITY, Iowa – On Feb. 3, Seaboard Triumph Foods announced Mark Porter will join the company as chief operating officer this month.

One of his main responsibilities will be leading the completion of the construction of a new hog- processing plant in Sioux City. Currently, the group is constructing a new, 750,000-sq.-ft. facility designed to process more than three million market hogs annually. The plant is expected to employ approximately 1,100 workers.

The plant will be built on the property in the Bridgeport West Industrial Park. Site work began in September 2015 and construction is expected to be completed by July 2017. 

Mark Porter, COO of Seaboard Triumph Foods

“I am excited to begin this rare and exciting challenge with Seaboard Triumph Foods, and look forward to building an outstanding team and establishing a permanent company presence in the Sioux City community,” Porter said.

Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods announced a joint venture to build the pork processing plant back in May 2015.

Porter comes to Seaboard Triumph Foods with an abundance of pork and broader food industry experience. Most recently, Porter was vice president of operations with AdvancePierre Foods in Enid, Okla., where he was responsible for the manufacturing network across the country.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead the growth of a new, modern and efficient pork plant, which will certainly have a significant impact on the entire pork industry," he said. "I am thrilled to be part of the Seaboard Triumph team whose ownership is highly respected throughout the meat industry.”

Porter’s prior professional experience includes operational roles with well-respected food companies and serving in the US Navy for eight years as a Submarine Operations Officer.

Triumph Foods is owned exclusively by pork producers and Seaboard Foods is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seaboard Corp.

Seaboard Foods markets and sells fresh pork processed by Triumph Foods in St. Joseph, Missouri, and Seaboard Foods’ Guymon, Okla., plants to domestic markets under the PrairieFresh Premium Pork brand and international markets under the Seaboard Farms and St. Joe Pork brands.